Land equivalent to about 70 soccer fields left vacant after home buybacks in Lismore may be repurposed for commercial use, parking, community facilities and parkland.

The city council has requested some South Lismore property be gifted to it, to be used for industrial purposes, and wants 14 other buyback properties handed to North Coast Agricultural & Industrial Society for additional car parking.  

The council and the NSW Reconstruction Authority will explore uses for vacant land this year.

The NSW government said: “While the buyback land is no longer suitable for residential uses, decisions on how the land will be used in future are still to be determined.”  

Consultants will appointed this year to bring expertise in urban planning, engineering and environmental science, and the planning process will run to early 2027.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg wants a review of proposed restrictions that mean all buildings must be removed and not replaced, saying the policy may “leave land vacant in places where safe, productive reuse is possible”.

“Smarter design and use can unlock economic value while managing risk,” he said. “A review of this policy needs to allow council to utilise this land for best future use possible, focusing on commercial and industrial possibilities where suitable.”  

More than 50 hectares across Lismore belong to the NSW government after 655 buybacks following record 2022 floods in the Northern Rivers region.

Final use and ownership of the buyback land will be determined by mid-2027. The community will be invited to contribute ideas.

See more details here.